Youth development: Governor Ambode’s symbolic gesture

February 7, 2017 was a red-letter day in the history of youth development in Lagos State. On that day, a lofty and laudable leadership development initiative, the IBILE Youth Academy, was inaugurated by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development with the full endorsement of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

The well-thought-out youth development programme was a clear departure from what we used to have in the past when youth events were one-off and their impact on attendees was likely to wear off quickly.

During the launch, the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, noted that the academy was “designed to inculcate in the youth the virtues of citizenship, leadership and volunteerism for the development of their personality, society and state and the nation by extension.”

Citizenship, altruism, patriotism and volunteerism are critical values that are hard to come by these days, especially among young people. Many of these youths grew up to see and learn how some leaders of this country failed to deliver good governance to the people and how they left their constituents worse than they met them. Fortunately, a handful of exceptional, visionary and high performing leaders, like Ambode, have managed to keep alive hopes for a better future.

During the weeklong leadership training programme held in different centres across the five administrative divisions of Lagos State, the participants were schooled in the dynamics of leadership and lectured on various topics, such as self-discovery, entrepreneurship, volunteerism, goal setting, creative thinking, team building, effective communication and public speaking.

Out of the initial 500 that participated in the first phase of the IBILE Youth Academy, 50 outstanding candidates were selected based on merit. These successful candidates then moved to a leadership training camp where they were taught practical team building and leadership skills.

Contrary to popular thinking, poor leadership, not corruption, is the real problem facing the country at the moment. The dearth of good leaders is the death of progress in any organisation, whether in the public or private sector. It is this realisation that must have inspired the birth of the well-thought-out IBILE Youth Academy.

Without the right kind of leadership, Nigerians cannot maximise their potential. Despite the fact that this country is generously endowed with natural and human resources, many Nigerians are still battling with abject poverty. Sadly, more people appear to be battling poverty of the mind and the paucity of positive social values.

I am particularly glad that the IYA is designed to be an annual programme. If the sense of urgency and priority given to the subject matter of leadership here in Lagos is applied across the federation, then a fresh generation of young patriotic leaders will be raised. There is no better time to catch them young than now. In fact, now is the time to prepare the youth to meet future challenges and help them to unleash their potential.

In a fast-changing world where more than 50 per cent of the population is below 30 years, a nation that neglects its youths is playing with fire. It is very important that we prepare the youths for leadership, otherwise we will continue to have cases of ‘accidental leaders’. Result-oriented leadership is required across the different sectors of the economy.

IYA’s pay-off line clearly captures the essence of the initiative. Speaking about the state government’s motivation, the Youth and Social Development Commissioner, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, pointed out that the underlying philosophy behind the leadership training in the youth sector by the state government, under the leadership of Governor Ambode, was based on a firm belief that dividends from such investment can never be quantified. This is because “young people are the resources that must be groomed and harnessed for the overall development of the state and Nigeria, at large.”

Given the urgent need to breed new leaders, the government needs a lot of support from non-governmental organisations and business concerns. I want to appeal to corporate organisations in the country to consider making social responsibility investment in the youth development initiatives, especially in leadership development.

All hands must be on deck to help our youths become assets and agents of development, not just in their communities but in the world at large. Governor Ambode is setting the stage for younger leaders to learn the ropes, take on the reins of leadership and participate in decision-making.